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Global Cyberattack Hits 350 Victims, 40 Countries

Mashable, By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai

A newly revealed global malware campaign hit 350 high-profile targets in 40 different countries. The cyberespionage campaign, codenamed Operation NetTraveler, has been active since at least 2004, stealing more than 22 gigabytes of data from computers around the world.

The malware attacks were uncovered on Tuesday by Russian online security company Kaspersky Lab. The hackers behind the campaign used a data-exfiltration tool called NetTraveler — not a very sophisticated malware designed to steal sensitive data and information.

The name originates from a string contained in the malware code: "NetTraveler is Running!"

Hackers used the malware, among others, to steal documents relating to space exploration, nanotechnologies, energy production, medicine and communications from government institutions, embassies, research centers, military contractors and energy industries. The researchers noted this was the same tool used to target Tibetan and Uyghur activists, two groups often targeted by Chinese hackers. Read more.